Margot labourez les vignes

Date:Late 16th century (though versions may be much older) Description:“Margot labourez les vignes” is a French folk song that has become widely recognised as part of the French folk tradition, particularly in the regions where vineyards are prevalent. It is a lively, dancelike tune with an infectious rhythm, making it …

Laudemus Virginem

Date:Late 14th century (c. 1399) Description:Laudemus Virginem is one of the ten surviving musical pieces from the Llibre Vermell de Montserrat, a manuscript compiled at the monastery of Montserrat in Catalonia. This hymn praises the Virgin Mary and reflects the devotional atmosphere of the pilgrimage site. It is a monophonic …

Laudate nomen Domini

Date:Late 16th century Description:Laudate Nomen Domini is a short, joyful Latin motet attributed to Christopher Tye, composed in a simple and elegant polyphonic style. The piece is a setting of Psalm 112:1 (from the Vulgate), and the text translates as “Praise the name of the Lord, you servants of the …

Lauda for Ildhafn

Date:2013 (composed for the Barony of Ildhafn) Description:“Lauda for Ildhafn” is a modern piece written in the style of a medieval Italian laudi, a form of devotional song from the 13th–14th centuries. This composition honours the Barony of Ildhafn, a branch of the SCA located in New Zealand. Discussion:I wanted …

Lady come down

Date:Published in 1609 (in Deuteromelia) Description:“Lady, Come Down” is a lively and flirtatious English catch (round) from the early 17th century, featured in Thomas Ravenscroft’s collection Deuteromelia. The piece is short, repetitive, and humorous, written for multiple voices to be sung in canon. Its cheerful character and simple structure made …

La Tricotea sa Martin

Date:Late 15th century (appears in the Cancionero de Palacio, dated approximately 1490–1520) Description:“La Tricotea San Martin la vea” is a playful and satirical three-part song attributed to Alonso de la Plaja, found in the Cancionero de Palacio. The piece is a Spanish adaptation of a French song documented in the …

La, la, la, je ne l’ose dire

Date:Mid-16th century (c. 1550) Description:“La, la, la, je ne l’ose dire” is a lively and humorous chanson by French Renaissance composer Pierre Certon. The title means “La, la, la, I dare not say it”, suggesting the singer is playfully avoiding revealing a mischievous or inappropriate detail. It is structured with …

Jubilate Deo

Date: Late 16th century (exact date uncertain) Description:A joyful and concise Latin motet, often arranged as a round or canon. Frequently attributed to composers such as Michael Praetorius or anonymous Renaissance origins. It is widely used in choral settings for its bright mood and easy adaptability for beginners and youth …

Jesu Cristes Milde Moder

Date:13th century Description:The 13th-century gymel version of “Jesu Cristes Milde Moder” is a setting of the Latin hymn dedicated to the Virgin Mary, arranged in the style of gymel. Gymel is a medieval contrapuntal technique in which two or more voices move together in parallel motion, usually in a perfect …